Why do I have trouble pronouncing words and restricted voice due to mucus in throat?

Question

Hi doctor,

I have been having trouble pronouncing words correctly and feel that my voice is restricted due to mucus in my throat. There are certain times, especially when I am eating when I have a runny nose, and this is when I find that it is much easier to speak freely and maintain a consistent voice. If I take medications to thin the mucus in my throat, it makes it even more difficult to speak. But, when I suck on hard candy, it is easier to speak. I can still talk but it is very uncomfortable because I cannot speak with the inflections that I want or the tone of voice that I want because I cannot control my voice. An ENT did a laryngoscopy and did not find anything.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

As you have mentioned, your primary complaint is excessive mucus in the throat leading to you having trouble pronouncing words. Your voice gets better when you are eating, or have a runny nose, or on sucking a hard candy. All these things have one thing in common that they dilute the mucus ( eating, sucking a candy cause increased salivation, thereby diluting the mucus). That means you have a thick, sticky mucus interfering with your speech, which may be due to sinusitis, chronic pharyngitis, gastro-esophageal reflux disease or environmental factors like cigarette smoke or dust. If you have a tendency to frequently clear your throat, that may be a sign of chronic sinusitis. You may need to get a nasal endoscopy done. A clinical examination of the posterior wall of the pharynx may reveal mucosal changes, suggesting a diagnosis of chronic pharyngitis (due to any cause). The treatment will depend upon the cause. For example, chronic rhinosinusitis is treated with antibiotics, antihistaminics (like Cetirizine), nasal sprays, etc. Chronic pharyngitis is treated with (sometimes) antibiotics, throat gargles, antihistaminics, etc. A course of PPI (proton pump inhibitors) like pantoprazole is required to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease. Whatever may be the cause, important is to stay hydrated by drinking lots of water and avoiding dust or cigarette smoke, etc.